THE front page of both the Macclesfield and Wilmslow Express make very depressing reading at the end of October.

'Yob culture is destroying the quality of life for thousands', screams the headline and of course councillors, police, and residents express their revulsion but why is it a surprise?

Take a walk (if you dare) past any Late Shop or off licence after dark.

You are almost certain to see a gang of unruly kids drinking and smoking God knows what?

Should you be foolish enough to speak to them you will undoubtedly be told to '**** Off'.

Try hanging around the town centre (Wilmlsow or Macclesfield it makes no difference) after midnight at weekend. If you are not involved in a drunken brawl the chances are you soon will be.

I recall a councillor telling me I 'overreacted' when reporting alcohol related crime.

He went on to say he had walked through Macclesfield town centre several times on his way to council meetings and had not encountered any problem at all.

When I telephoned him from Mill Street the following Saturday night and invited him to witness yobs vomiting in doorways he was 'unavailable'.

Until the arrival of our new chief constable Cheshire Police had denuded the streets of officers to such a degree no-one believed they had any interest.

Community policing was abandoned for trendier theories, none of which involved much interaction with residents except at police 'forums'.

"Control the sale of alcohol and you control crime," a senior officer told us recently but where did this strategy fit into Macclesfield Borough Council's willingness to approve every new bar in town?

Such yobs we have seen brought to justice appear to know more about the judicial system than sitting magistrates.

Invariably they present a litany of feeble excuses and walk away laughing.

So who is to blame for the epidemic of anti-social behaviour blighting our lives and driving some housebound residents to contemplate suicide? We are.

When policemen did tackle problems head on invariably some solicitor, mindful of the growing compensation culture, shouted 'foul' and Cheshire Police were made to look like the Gestapo.

Teachers were expected to tolerate unruly and abusive pupils with little recourse except exclusion whereupon school governors invariably undermined their own staff and reinstated the offender.

It engendered an atmosphere in which teachers could be ridiculed, victimised and in some cases assaulted with impunity.

Parents of disruptive kids were quick to seek legal representation leaving any teacher who promoted discipline in fear of their job.

Magistrates' courts that once commanded universal respect have become so easy to manipulate they hold little or no deterrent and still the long-suffering public remain silent.

Have you ever wondered why our courts dole out such ludicrously ineffective sentences?

The magistrates believe their sentencing policies have been moulded by the 'views of society' and so they have, but only that part of society which shouts loudest.

Unless we bombard newspapers with our views, lobby councillors day and night, challenge our Member of Parliament to act and stand by the police when they take tough measures the vociferous minority will continue to rule the roost.

Have no doubt the yobs are exploiting our sense of fair play and presenting any firm action as victimisation.

They are laughing at our hamstrung police, gullible courts and our helplessness.

We have all tolerated and pandered to the yob culture which plagues us today and only public opinion will change the status quo. This is not the opinion of the 'what can you do about it?' variety but co-ordinated fearless campaigning.

Tell the chief constable what sort of policing you want. Organise a demonstration and swamp your MP with mail, telephone your local councillor and make your case.

Attend magistrates courts and see for yourself the sham that passes for justice then write to the press and express your views.

Volunteer to be a neighbourhood co-ordinator, ignore intimidation but above all: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.